Breasts ARE Sexual. (Because We Clearly Need This Talk)

[safechner]

Okay um as a married male! I find it completely inappropriate to do right in public view, its an intimate moment between baby and mom. You kind of contradict yourself in your post anyway.

I am sorry everyone but I do agree with dave4him.


I breastfed both of my daughters when they were babies. I refused to do it in public because I felt it was inappropriate to front of people and kids. I am currently pregnant with my third child. Again, I will not do it in public. My husband feels the same way as dave4him feels. I don't need them to see my boobs or private area or whatever. If I see the mom nursed her baby in public and I looked it away but I make sure my kids didn't see them.

I refused to have naked front of my kids at all. They haven't seen my body since they were 20 months old. I feel it is inappropriate to front of my kids. However, my daughters learned that they will never show their body to anyone or family. They are very smart to cover themselves.

It is my personal choice... I don't tell mothers what to do or tell them go to private room or whatever...

I had mother group and there was one lady who tried to tell me about breastfeeding which is natural to do it in public. I refused to listen to her and I will NOT take her advice when she saw me that I looked away from her from the mall. That was a long time ago when my first daughter was an 8 month old.

[LK5kids]

All I have to say is the boobs in public view has not hit my area yet. Glad to have some advanced notice!!! IMHO boobs are sexual-hands are not....boobs please stay modestly covered.

I breast fed one child for a year and one for 2 3/4 yrs. Had no problem keeping them reined in!

[Country Kids]

Men use their genitals for peeing and sex. Why would they be running around with their junk out?

We use ours breast for sex and feeding humans. Because we feed humans does that give woman the right to have them out in full view?

[MNMum]

My son didn't latch for the first 6 weeks of his life. It was hell. We tried everything. We ended up using a supplemental nursing system, and eventually he just "got" it.

Then my best friend got pregnant, survived a ruptured uterus, (but barely, she flat-lined at one point,) and had troubles nursing. I kept telling her "you can do it, try this, there are ways, try that." She suffered from horrible PPD but didn't want to seek help or be on meds, cause of the pumping and attempted nursing she was doing. After many heart-to-hearts, it became clear that she had to take care of HER health first. It NEEDED to be a priority, for the sake of her child. She went on meds, pumped and supplemented for a year, and is doing great now.

I was so humbled after that experience. I can definitely see why the "in your face" nursers could cause so much pain to a non-nurser. I'd never thought of it that way before.

I agree that for those mothers that have tried so hard to nurse and it didn't work it may be painful. But I don't agree that I should have to hide the fact that I am nursing a baby. That I should have to go to a bathroom to nurse or fitting room or wherever. Just because I may offend someone who tried and it didn't work. There are many couples out there that struggle with infertility. Does that mean that I should hide the fact that I am pregnant? Would it make me an "in the face" pregnant lady if I didn't hide my pregnancy, or my baby after it came? Nursing is often very difficult in the beginning and I have helped many mothers during these times. Sometimes it is very easy for both mom and baby. I don't think that fact should be hidden, so as not to offend someone, that would definitely not help the breastfeeding rates. Nor should we hide the fact that breastmilk is the healthier baby food.

[Heidi]

We use ours breast for sex and feeding humans. Because we feed humans does that give woman the right to have them out in full view?

Yep...it gives her the right.

I think covering a bit is nicer myself. It's a good compromise.

But, I don't think a woman should have to go hide in the dressing room, or worse yet, a bathroom. Gross! I wouldn't eat in a bathroom, why should some poor baby?

[littlemissmuffet]

Heidi... are the little peeps in your avatar wearing... BOOB HATS???!

HOW OFFENSIVE!























::

[Crystal]

I do not think anyone here has said a BF Mom should go to the bathroom to feed. Just being discrete, within reason, would be appreciated. It has been said we would prefer not to witness it at the dinner table in a restaraunt, with breasts in full view. The MOST controversial one has been the BF'ing of a preschooler and/or a toddler at the restaraunt dinner table, when, especially the preschooler doesn't NEED to be BF'd and could enjoy a meal of solid foods while BABY BF's discreetly.

I don't think that it is too much to ask that a BF Mom be considerate of others in public places.

[MarinaVanessa]

No...but, it's not offensive in the hispanic culture. ....

..Also, for the Hispanic culture breastfeeding. I would say that is definetly a younger generation thing. I have many hispanic relatives and know many hispanic ladies 5 years older then me and older and none of them would have openly bf in public and probably many not even around their husbands. I was told by many of them-not to be out of bed before 40 days after having a baby, no lifting my other children (the baby was 3 months old by then), and many other things that made me think-older women that did things much different then even my generation!.

In response to the hispanic thing ... I think it depends (just like everywhere else) on economics, region, class status, culture etc. ... and by culture I don't just mean ethnicity because there are cultures within cultures. My family is from Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico and they are middle and upper class families. Guadalajara is a large city and I have never seem a BF mom EVER when I've been there to visit. All of my aunts and cousins have excused themselves from the room to nurse and wouldn't even cover up with a blanket to BF, in their "culture" it's unaccepted ... it just isn't done. But I have gone to visit smaller towns nearby (for example Tototlan) and I have seen moms sitting on the sidewalks in front of their homes talking to friends and 2 or 3 of them were all breastfeeding, some covered some not.

I personally don't have a problem BFing in public but I personally preffer to cover up ... I don't feel comfortable showing my breast to people that I don't know. If I were with close family and even some close friends then I might not cover up but I would never pull out both breasts. I had family from Mexico visit and although I don't have a problem BFing in my home without covering up I would either leave the room if male family members were there or cover up when I was with females just so that they would not feel uncomfortable. I don't feel that it's my place to force someone to it just because of my personal choice.

Here at daycare I BF my DS openly in front of the DCK's but not before discussing this with all of my clients first... both the DCMs and the DCD's. Had ONE client have an issue with me BFing openly without covering up I would have not done so in front of their child but none had a problem with it and they encouraged it saying that it was natural and that they saw no problem with it. I also kept in mind and discussed the ages of the children. Had I had an older child 4+ that looked and snickered I would have stopped immediately (BFing without covering up). I also discussed with them that I would BF in front of the kids while covering up no matter what they felt or what their opinions over the matter would be... as in if someone had a problem with BFing then I would cover up but would still BF in front of the children ... they all assured me that was not necessary. I also explained that although I appreciated their openess and willingness to be ok with me to BF openly without covering up in front of the children that I WOULD NOT do so in front of the adults ... I just don't feel that comfortable around my clients to just pull out the boob and BF my child. The DCMs laughed and the DCDs blushed but were grateful .

I guess what I'm trying to say is that no matter what my personal beliefs are or for whatever reason why I choose to do or not do something it doesn't make it right for me to force it on someone who doesn't believe the same as I do. I go out in public and although I'm a huge advocate for BFing I know I feel uncomfortable being in public while someone openly has their boobie out even though I think BF is great. I feel uncomfortable and although I wouldn't say anything or judge that person I would turn and walk away wishing that I had not seen it. JMPO.

[Unregistered]

I bf my 2 boys and did it very discreetly and never showed my boobs off. I truly could careless about mother's who bf in public. I just look the other way.. no biggie.

But I did have a problem when I worked in my son's preschool classroom the other day and a mother who was observing the class for next years preschool class, had her 2 children (one who was going to attend next year preschool and a 2 yr old) when she just pulled out her boob in front of 20 preschoolers to feed her child. The topper was the child didn't want to feed the lady was trying to get her to sit still!

[Blackcat31]

I do not think anyone here has said a BF Mom should go to the bathroom to feed. Just being discrete, within reason, would be appreciated. It has been said we would prefer not to witness it at the dinner table in a restaraunt, with breasts in full view. The MOST controversial one has been the BF'ing of a preschooler and/or a toddler at the restaraunt dinner table, when, especially the preschooler doesn't NEED to be BF'd and could enjoy a meal of solid foods while BABY BF's discreetly.

I don't think that it is too much to ask that a BF Mom be considerate of others in public places.

That is the key word: Public


pub·lic [puhb-lik]

adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole: public funds; a public nuisance.

2. done, made, acting, etc., for the community as a whole: public prosecution.

3. open to all persons: a public meeting.

noun
1. the people constituting a community, state, or nation.

2. a group of people with a common interest, aim, etc




I think one person's beliefs should never supercede what the PUBLIC believes or thinks.

In public NO ONE group of people is right or wrong and our actions must be modified to fit into that public.

[Heidi]

Heidi... are the little peeps in your avatar wearing... BOOB HATS???!

HOW OFFENSIVE!



::

Ach du lieber Gott!

Das sind die Mainzelmanchen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iotEroE6OE0

I don't know if they still do, but in Germany they used to play a half hour of commercials at a time (vs. breaking up shows) with little cartoons between to keep people interested.

Fond memories from visiting my Oma in Germany when I was little.

[Heidi]

I do not think anyone here has said a BF Mom should go to the bathroom to feed. Just being discrete, within reason, would be appreciated. It has been said we would prefer not to witness it at the dinner table in a restaraunt, with breasts in full view. The MOST controversial one has been the BF'ing of a preschooler and/or a toddler at the restaraunt dinner table, when, especially the preschooler doesn't NEED to be BF'd and could enjoy a meal of solid foods while BABY BF's discreetly.

I don't think that it is too much to ask that a BF Mom be considerate of others in public places.

FYI-I was not arguing for fully exposed breastfeeding. It just seems like per the usual (not just here, but in this country in general), we have to choose one or the other. One can breastfeed in public without flashing everything. Meets the baby's needs, saves others discomfort. It seems like good manners to me.

As for the toddlers/preschoolers. I agree. They do not NEED bmilk, except for comfort, perhaps, and at this point, mom should have a few other strategies in place.

Years ago we had a lady in church who still bf'd her 3 yo. Not my business. But when he is YELLING in church "Mommy...I want to nurse", and her answer is "Shush...M*, you are embarrasing me", it's maybe time to keep it for bedtime.

If it's embarrasing you, that might be a sign.

[DCBlessings27]

Heidi... are the little peeps in your avatar wearing... BOOB HATS???!

HOW OFFENSIVE!






















::

Speaking of which, we had people up in arms about this logo because they said it was reminiscent of a woman's breast. My husband, who designs stuff like this, said it was just a poor design.

[DCBlessings27]

I am sorry everyone but I do agree with dave4him.


I breastfed both of my daughters when they were babies. I refused to do it in public because I felt it was inappropriate to front of people and kids. I am currently pregnant with my third child. Again, I will not do it in public. My husband feels the same way as dave4him feels. I don't need them to see my boobs or private area or whatever. If I see the mom nursed her baby in public and I looked it away but I make sure my kids didn't see them.

I refused to have naked front of my kids at all. They haven't seen my body since they were 20 months old. I feel it is inappropriate to front of my kids. However, my daughters learned that they will never show their body to anyone or family. They are very smart to cover themselves.

It is my personal choice... I don't tell mothers what to do or tell them go to private room or whatever...

I had mother group and there was one lady who tried to tell me about breastfeeding which is natural to do it in public. I refused to listen to her and I will NOT take her advice when she saw me that I looked away from her from the mall. That was a long time ago when my first daughter was an 8 month old.

My husband is conservative as well. If I don't grab a cami or tank to put under my shirts, he grabs one for me. My daughter (3yo) has seen me without clothes, but he will NEVER let our daughters see him without clothes. Our oldest got excited and wanted to show Daddy something the other day, and he shut the door really quickly (after she opened it) because she tried walking in on him in the bathroom.

[AmyLeigh]

Just out of curiosity, how many here have actually seen the "boob flopped out on the restaurant table" kind of scenario? Almost all of my relatives and friends who have children nursed their kids for a year or more, and I think I have seen maybe 2 occasions where they had been accidentally exposed (squirmy baby, usually). And that was either in a church nursing room, or at a private home, not in a public area. Zero incidents where it is purposeful, in your face, kind of exposure. And I have NEVER seen that with regards to strangers in restaurants, stores, etc.

I know that Nannyde has posted about her experience. Any others?

My point is, if it doesn't happen very frequently, why get all up in arms about it?